Rotorua Boys' High School
Rotorua Boys' High School is a state school educating boys from Year 9 to Year 13. It is situated just outside the Rotorua CBD at the intersection of Old Taupo Road and Pukuatua Street in Rotorua, New Zealand. The school is governed by an elected School Board, of which the Principal is ex officio a member under guidelines laid down by the New Zealand Ministry of Education.[4]
| Rotorua Boys' High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
Pukuatua Street Rotorua New Zealand | |
| Coordinates | 38°8′19.59″S 176°14′17.25″E / 38.1387750°S 176.2381250°E |
| Information | |
| Type | State single-sex secondary |
| Motto | Latin: Ad Astra Per Aspera Māori: Whaia Te Iti Kahurangi |
| Established | 1927 |
| Ministry of Education Institution no. | 152 |
| Principal | A.C. Grinter MNZM |
| Years offered | 9 – 13 |
| Gender | Male |
| School roll | 1178[1] (April 2023) |
| Houses | Ngongotahā (Drake), Te Akitu (Frobisher), Rotorua-nui-ā-Kahumatamomoe (Nelson) and Utuhina (Raleigh) |
| Colour(s) | Red and Blue |
| Song | Rotorua Boys High School Song |
| Nickname | Raukura |
| Socio-economic decile | 3G[2] |
| Website | rbhs.school.nz |
History Edit
Rotorua Boys' High School had its beginnings as the Rotorua High and Grammar School, founded in 1927[5] to replace the earlier Rotorua District High School (1914–1926). By 1956 it had a roll in excess of 1200 students.[6] Revenues for the school came from land gifted by the Ngāti Whakaue people for the Town of Rotorua in 1880 under the Fenton Agreement.[7][8][9][10]
The Intermediate Department was closed when Rotorua Intermediate School was established in 1957. The Rotorua High School was further split to make room for a growing population of the district and its educational needs when, in 1959 Rotorua Girls' High School was opened. Rotorua High School was then established as Rotorua Boys' High School and commenced to function as a state secondary school for boys with a roll of 640 pupils in February 1959.[11]
Two memorial honours boards titled Pro Patria 1939-1945 Non Omnis Moriar either side of the stage in the school’s assembly hall commemorate 61 RBHS veterans who died in World War 2 military service. Also listed on the second board are two from the Vietnam War and one for World War 1. A photograph of each is placed next to their name. Another honours board lists War Orders, Decorations and Medals bestowed on 17 veterans from the school.[12]
In the 1980's, the school was an early adopter of computer technology both in its central administration and in delivery of classroom teaching via the government-backed Poly-1. Funds for the purchases came from the Ngāti Whakaue grant.[13][14]
The boys’ and girls’ high schools have collaborated on debates, plays and musical productions, such as Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2019,[15] and In The Heights in 2022.[16]
In 2019, Rotorua Boys' High School won the Prime Minister of New Zealand Supreme Award for Excellence in Education, at the same time winning Excellence in Leading Award, making it the top school in the country for that year.[17][18][19] The school was also named Finalist, Excellence in Teaching & Learning Award.[20]
In the 2022 New Year Honours, the school's principal Chris Grinter was appointed a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit "for services to education and Māori after spending the 'vast majority' of his career dedicated to schools with high Māori populations".[21]
Two books about Rotorua Boys' High School's history by archivist Kevin Lyall have been published, the first in 2003[22] and the second to mark the school’s 2014 centenary.[23]
Principals Edit
- Rotorua District High School
- John Warn (1914–1915)
- Francis Wood (1915–1919)
- Thomas Tanner (1916-1918) (While Wood was serving in World War I)
- William Lewins (1920–1926)
- George Barber (1926)
- Rotorua High and Grammar School
- Aby Ryder (1927–1931)
- Bill Harwood (1932–1959)
- Rotorua Boys' High School
- Neville Thornton (1960–1962)
- Ted Hamill (1963–1979)
- Geoffrey Cramond (1980–1991)
- Chris Grinter (1991 – present)
Houses Edit
From 1927 till 2020, Rotorua Boys' High School's four houses were known as Drake, Frobisher, Nelson and Raleigh, after great British explorers and seafarers. At the end of 2020, in a climate influenced by the American Black Lives Matter movement, and supported by evidence that each of the four British namesakes had varying levels of involvement with slavery, the houses were given new names. These new names, which were also felt to be more relevant to the pupils of today, came into effect at the beginning of 2021:[24]
- Ngongotaha — red, formerly known as Drake
- Te Akitu a Raukura — yellow, formerly known as Frobisher
- Te Rotoruanui-a-Kahu — blue, formerly known as Nelson
- Utuhina — green, formerly known as Raleigh
Sport Edit
Rotorua Boys' High School is well-known for its sports programme, particularly in Rugby Union,[25] and has its own Rugby Field, Soccer Field, Cricket Ground, Basketball and Tennis Courts, and a Gymnasium, which are sometimes also hired to approved sporting bodies.[26] Five 'sports academies' are offered to students:[27]
- Basketball
- Football
- Golf
- Hockey
- Rugby
The school’s own geothermal swimming pool, built in 1954, closed in the early 1990's in compliance with government forced bore closures across Rotorua.[28] The new Science Block now occupies the area where the pool once stood. Following a stint at the Blue Baths, RBHS Swimming Sports moved to the Aquatic Centre in 1994.[29] In November 2022, the Aquatic Centre closed for renovations until early 2024.[30]
Four RBHS old boys competed in the Beijing Olympics: kayaker Mike Walker, shooter Robbie Eastham, footballer Sam Messam and cyclist Sam Bewley. Following the Olympics in 2009, the athletes were honoured with a whole-school haka.[31]
Hostel Edit
In 2005, Rotorua Boys' High School officially opened the Tai Mitchell Hostel, an onsite boarding facility, at a cost of $3.5 million. Named after the former Chair of the Te Arawa District Maori Council and Chair of the Arawa Trust Board, Tai Mitchell,[32] the facility is designed to accommodate 104 students, roughly 10 percent of the school roll.[33][18][19]
Education Department Review Edit
In 2009, the New Zealand Ministry of Education appointed a limited statutory manager Dennis Finn to investigate alleged mismanagement, inappropriate drug-testing and financial issues regarding the school's Hostel.[34] Despite vehement protests from parents, following his investigation, Finn found that the school had no case to answer, and the boys who had been suspended were subsequently reinstated, with "letters of explanation".[35]
In October 2022, the New Zealand Education Review Office published a Profile Report on Rotorua Boys' High School.[36] Among his findings, the review director Phil Cowie wrote that RBHS had in place “a well-established, collaborative and robust school-wide evaluation process, highly effective leadership across all areas of the school, well-established educationally powerful connections, communication and relationships, and with Māori whānau, hapū, iwi and parents, families and communities, to support student learning and outcomes,” and that the school had addressed equity concerns and academic outcomes to provide a strong and positive base for initiatives. The report made recommendations concerning NCEA implementation on “corequisites around literacy and numeracy, and building a strong base for common assessment activities; continuing a focus on the wellbeing of students and staff based on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and partnerships with whānau and parents and creating a pathway for Tikanga Māori to be added as a core subject for all Year 12 ākonga[37] in 2023.”
Notable alumni Edit
The arts and journalism Edit
- Alan Duff MBE — author
- Sir Howard Morrison OBE — musician[38]
- Neil Waka — TVNZ presenter
- Jordi Webber — member of boy band Titanium[39]
Business Edit
- Neville Crichton CNZM — entrepreneur, touring car racer, and ocean-race sailor[40]
Politics and public service Edit
- Percy Allen QSO — National Party politician[41]
- Ray Boord — Labour Party politician[42]
- Heta Hingston QSO — former lawyer and jurist[43]
- Jim Traue ONZM — former Chief Librarian of the Alexander Turnbull Library[44]
Sport Edit
- Israel Adesanya — mixed martial artist in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, current UFC Middleweight Champion[45]
- Trevor Berghan — rugby union player (All Blacks)
- Sam Bewley — cyclist, team pursuit (Beijing Olympics 2008)[46]
- Neville Black — rugby union (All Blacks) and rugby league player (Wigan)
- Kevin Blackwell — road and track cyclist (Edmonton Commonwealth Games 1978)[47][48]
- Garrick Cowley — rugby union player (Manu Samoa)
- Mike Delany — rugby union player (All Blacks)
- Tom Donnelly — rugby union player (All Blacks)
- Robbie Eastham — shooter[46]
- Jonty Farmer — sailor, Finn class (Mexico City Olympics 1968 and Montreal Olympics 1976)[49]
- Siegfried Fisi'ihoi — rugby union player (Tonga)[50]
- Kelly Haimona — rugby union player (Bay of Plenty, Lyons Piacenza, Calvisano, Zebre, and Italy)
- Teimana Harrison — rugby union player (Northampton Saints and England)
- Dylan Hartley — rugby union player (Northampton Saints and England)
- Danny Lee — golfer[46]
- Adam McGeorge — footballer (All Whites, Oly-Whites 2012)
- Alan McNaughton — rugby union player (All Blacks and Bay of Plenty)[51]
- Liam Messam — rugby union player (All Blacks, Waikato, Chiefs, gold medalist in rugby sevens at Melbourne 2006 and Dehli 2010 Commonwealth Games)
- Sam Messam — footballer[46]
- Craig Newby — rugby union player (All Blacks, Otago, North Harbour, Highlanders, Leicester Tigers, 7’s World Cup winner, 7’s Manchester Commonwealth games Gold medal winner)
- Willie Ripia — rugby union player (Highlanders, Hurricanes, Taranaki and Western Force)
- Ben Sandford — skeleton sledder and Winter Olympian[52]
- Arthur Stone — rugby union player (All Blacks)[53]
- Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi — rugby union player (All Blacks)[54]
- Isaac Te Aute — rugby union player (New Zealand Sevens)[55]
- Latu Vaeno — Tongan-born rugby union player (All Blacks)[56]
- Matt Vant Leven — rugby union player (Chiefs)
- Mike Walker — kayaker[46]
References Edit
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
- ^ School newsletter, September 2006
- ^ Your school board: for parents and Whānau. Official website.
- ^ Stafford, Don. "Raukura". Retrieved 30 November 2015.
- ^ Lyall, Kevin. "Rotorua's Plume: A History of Rotorua Boys' High School" (PDF).
- ^ The FENTON AGREEMENT The setting up of Rotorua. Te Arawa Stories Digital Storehouse.
- ^ Story: Te Kōti Whenua – Māori Land Court. Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
- ^ Our School History. Official site.
- ^ Kevin J. Lyall - School Historian. ROTORUA BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL - AN HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. p.26.
- ^ Rotorua High and Grammar School, Rotorua Boys' High School History and Register of Pupils by Kevin J Lyall
- ^ Rotorua Boys' High School memorial. Ministry for Culture and Heritage, updated 17-Feb-2017. nzhistory.govt.nz website.
- ^ Kevin J. Lyall - School Historian. ROTORUA BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL - AN HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. p.16.
- ^ Polys in action at Rotorua. (August 1984). Pages 68-69. Bits & Bytes (New Zealand)
- ^ Te Mātārere: A Mid Summer’s Night Dream RGHS / RBHS Joint Production. Rotorua Girls' High School.
- ^ James, Shauni. (28 July 2022). Rotorua Boys' and Girls' high schools bringing In the Heights to life onstage. Rotorua Daily Post.
- ^ Prime Minister’s Awards recognise excellence in education. Education Gazette: ISSUE: VOLUME 98, NUMBER 17. Ministry of Education (New Zealand).
- ^ a b Hostel puts Rotorua Boys High at top. 11 September 2019. Waatea News.
- ^ a b Rotorua Boys' High School, 2019 Winner, Excellence in Leading. YouTube. Prime Minister of New Zealand 'Excellence in Education Award'.
- ^ Rotorua Boys' High School, 2019 Finalist, Excellence in Teaching & Learning. YouTube. Prime Minister of New Zealand 'Excellence in Education Award'.
- ^ Wilson, Megan. (30 December 2022). New Year Honours: Chris Grinter appointed a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Rotorua Daily Post.
- ^ Rotorua Plume: a history of Rotorua Boys' High School, 1880-2001 by Kevin J. Lyall ISBN 0473081180. Goodreads
- ^ The Empress’s Plume: Rotorua’s First High School: Rotorua Boys’ High School centenary, 1914-2014 by Kevin J. Lyall. ISBN 9780473270506. Goodreads
- ^ Kevin J. Lyall (2021). "Rotorua Boys' High School---An Historical Introduction" (PDF) (7 ed.). p. 19.
- ^ Beck, David. (4 October 2018). Remarkable turnaround for Rotorua Boys' football. Rotorua Daily Post.
- ^ Facilities. Official site.
- ^ Sports. Offical site.
- ^ Bay of Plenty Geothermal Systems - The Science Story. Page 32. Bay of Plenty Regional Council
- ^ Kevin J. Lyall - School Historian. ROTORUA BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL - AN HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. p.43.
- ^ Indoor pools at Aquatic Centre now closed as next stage of development starts. 23 November 2022, Rotorua Daily Post.
- ^ School The Olympic success story of Rotorua Boy's High School. Stuff (website), (31 January 2009).
- ^ Biography: Tai Mitchell. New Zealand Government.
- ^ Tai Mitchell Hostel. Official site. RBHS.
- ^ Grunwell, Rachel (28 February 2010). "School's drug test 'torture'". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
- ^ Rachel Grunwell and Greg Taipari. (26 June 2010). Report slams drug testing. Rotorua Daily Post.
- ^ Cowie, Phil. Director Review and Improvement Services (Central), Central Region, Te Tai Pūtahi Nui. (18 October 2022). Rotorua Boys' High School. Education Review Office (New Zealand), New Zealand Government.
- ^ ākonga. Māori dictionary website.
- ^ Ihaka, James; Gay, Edward (29 September 2009). "Sir Howard Morrison laid to rest". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
- ^ "Rising Star: Jordi's ability sets stage for future in performing arts". Rotorua Daily Post. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- ^ "Rotorua's richest revealed". Rotorua Daily Post. n.d. Retrieved 12 August 2023 – via New Zealand Herald.
- ^ Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. p. 297. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
- ^ "Mr Boord dies at 74". Bay of Plenty Times. 4 May 1982.
- ^ "Former Māori Land Court judge Heta Kenneth Hingston farewelled". Rotorua Daily Post. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ Traue, J. E., ed. (1978). Who's Who in New Zealand (11th ed.). Wellington: Reed. p. 271. ISBN 0-589-01113-8.
- ^ "The pain behind Israel Adesanya's rise to the UFC". Sporting News. 2018-02-09. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
- ^ a b c d e "The Olympic success story of Rotorua Boy's High School". Sunday Star Times. 29 August 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^ "New Zealand, cemetery records, 1800–2007 for Kevin Edward Blackwell". Ancestry.com Operations. 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "Ngā Raukura i te Ao – Hall of Fame". Rotorua Boys' High School. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "Hall of Fame Inductees". Rotorua Boys' High School. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
- ^ "Siegfried Fisiihoi Bay of Plenty Steamers Player Profile". BoP Rugby. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ Knight, Lindsay. "Alan McNaughton: #693". Match Centre. New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ (PDF). Rotorua Boys' High School. February 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- ^ "Arthur Massey Stone". New Zealand Rugby History. from the original on 15 January 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ "Taranaki halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi signs two-year deal with Hurricanes". Hurricanes Rugby. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
- ^ "Isaac Te Aute latest addition to All Blacks Sevens squad". Māori Television. 8 September 2015.
- ^ Goile, Aaron (4 March 2016). "New Chief Latu Vaeno now feeling right at home ahead of first Super Rugby start". Stuff. Retrieved 1 October 2019.